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Submission KOUTSODIMOS-1368 (Online)

Submission By Rita Koutsodimos
AddressVancouver, BC,
Organization
Date20040823
CategoryElectoral system change
Abstract
A seven point scheme for an MMP voting system. [2 pages]

Submission Content

First, I would like to communicate how pleased I am that this assembly was established and secondly I commend all the volunteer members who have so generously donated their time and wisdom to a very important process to reinvigorate democracy in this province.
 
Although I have no formal training in political science, I am politically active and have some awareness of the issues around how we elect our political representatives.  It is my opinion that many have become disillusioned with the political process for a number of reasons but one in particular, is that some feel their vote is cheated by the first past the post system.  This is particularly glaring when you have a party that loses the majority yet wins enough constituencies to form government.  Or in the case of smaller parties, those that earn a percentage of the total votes yet see no representation on the legislature.  This often leads to strategic voting, voting an individual or party OUT (instead of voting FOR) or abandonment of franchise. On the other hand I believe regional interests are important and need to be represented. 
 
My vision of an electoral system would combine both and would work something like this:

  1. The number of seats in the legislature is correlated to the population
  2. Constituencies are retained although the boundaries may need to be adjusted 
  3. The parties still run candidates in each constituency (the smaller parties can choose to run candidates in the constituencies where they can)
  4. The total provincial vote determines the number of seats allocated to each party
  5. The parties fill those seats with the members that have earned the highest percentage of their regional (constituency) vote.  In the case where a party has earned several seats but not 'won' any constituency, then the party should choose the candidate that has earned the most votes (or the party leader)
  6. Independents that win their constituency win a seat in the legislature
  7. Voters have the option of grading their ballots, that is choosing first, second, and third choices of candidates.  Those numbers are formulated into a score that determines the outcome of the number of seats allocated to each party.
I hope I have articulated my vision of an improved electoral system with enough clarity that the members of this assembly will be able to get the gist of what I have attempted to communicate.  Please contact me should you need any clarification or if I have not followed the approved procedure.

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